Second-Ranked Bulldogs Pull Out League Opening Victory At Ashland To Stay Unbeaten

Game Highlights
Postgame Interview 

Big Rapids, Mich. - Nationally second-ranked Ferris State University got off to a quick start and held on down the stretch to stay unbeaten as the Bulldogs topped Ashland 28-13 in their Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) opener on Saturday (Sept. 21) evening at Jack Miller Stadium in Ashland, Ohio.

The Bulldogs improved to 3-0 with the triumph as they beat AU for the second-straight season.

Ferris State and Ashland entered the league opener having combined to win or share four of the past five GLIAC Championships and the two squads battled to the finish before a large crowd. AU had handed FSU two of its three regular-season setbacks in the past five years, including a 20-3 win two years ago in 2017 when Ferris State was also ranked second in the country.

The Bulldogs opened the game with a six-play, 74-yard drive that was completed when senior quarterback Jayru Campbell found sophomore wideout Xavier Wade on a 43-yard scoring throw to make it 7-0 early on.

FSU soon after took advantage of a short field after a blocked punt and needed only 19 yards in five plays to push the advantage to 14-0 on Campbell's one-yard scoring run.

The score stood until midway thru the second quarter when Ashland put its first points on the board as Satchel Denton converted a 42-yard field goal to trim the margin to 14-3.

The Eagles then pulled within 10 points at halftime as quarterback Austin Brenner found the endzone following a late FSU interception on a 23-yard TD run to make it a 14-10 game.

Ferris State got the only points of the third period when Campbell scored for the second time to finish a lengthy 10-play, 82-yard jaunt, pushing the lead back to two scores at 21-10.

However, AU again pulled back within a score as Denton nailed a 40-yard field goal with 14:53 to play in the game.

The Bulldog defense stepped up again late as they came up with two big fourth-quarter interceptions from senior cornerback James Ceasar, one of which setup Marvin Campbell's three-yard TD run with four minutes left to put the game away.

The Bulldogs finished with 389 yards of total offense, including 246 passing yards from Jayru Campbell. Marvin Campbell ran for 74 yards while Sy Barnett had five catches for 81 yards.

The FSU defense held Ashland to 276 total yards and a three-of-17 performance on third down while also forcing three interceptions.

The Bulldogs will return home to host Northern Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 3 p.m. (ET). Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (231) 591-2888 or visit FerrisStateBulldogs.com for more information.